The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-19
SAVED BY HER NEIGIBORS
A Woman's Timely Visit Prevents Nor
ris Johnson from Numbering His Wife.
Shooting Himself Through the Head
Crazed by Dissipation and Jealousy.

wife and four children wept over the dead
body of Morris Johnson, at his home, No. 41s
South Tennessee street, yesterday afternoon.
He lay upon the floor, and beside him thirty
two calibre revolver, with which he had at
tempted to take his wife's life and failing in
that, had sent bullet through his own brains
The people Danes. Eleven years ago
they were married in their European home. and
came directly to this country and settled in St
Louis. Mr.. johnson was a skilled mechanic.
and for nine years had worked in factory IN
that city. Two years ago they moved here, and
johnson began work for the Sarven wheel
works at good wages. About year ago he lost
three fingers from his right hand by an accident
in the factory, and since that time had been I'M
able to follow his trade. Several months ago he
began working for a novelty manufacturing
company, and peddled clocks from house to
house about the city. He was discouraged
his inability to work at his trade. and began
indulging in ntoxicants. His bad habits soon
made it impossible for him to provide for his
family. and his wife began taking in washing For
the past six months she has been over the wash
tub almost continually, and had about ceased
to depend upon him for any assistance in the
support Of the family. He grew jealous of her,
because men came to the house to bring their
soiled linen for her to wash, and several weeks
ago told her he was going to kill her. 1t was his
custom to come home every evening and demand
money from her. and If she refused he compelled
her to furnish it at the point of his revolver. On
Tuesday morning ne left the honse and did not
return until yesterday afternoon. Mrs. johnson
was washing in the kitchen when he came III,
and greeted him as usual.
Il want you to come upstairs. I want to have
a talk with you" he said to- her. She told him
cOuld
had been drinking. she believed he meant to
make trouble. He said potbing more. but went
Mrs johnson remembered that she had
left her pocket-book with some money
in 1t lying the mantle in the room above, and
as her husband was in the habit of taking money
out of it, she went up to get it When she
tered the room he was going through the
drawers, and evidently searching for the money.
She said nothing to him, but put the pocket
book in her pocket and went back down to her
washing
The stairway is in the rear of the house, and
leads to the kitchen. where she was washing.
AT its foot and to the right is a door that opens
into side room AS johnson came down this
stairway, two three minutes afterward, with
revolver in hand, Mrs Riley, a neigh oor entered
the side room. Mrs. johnson at this time was
bending over her sh-tub, with her back to the
foot of the stairway and her husband. She was
not aware of his approach for he had descended
noiselessly, having removed his shoes. It so
happened that the door from the side room to
the foot of the stairway open. and Mrs.
Riley entered she saw johnson raising his arm
to shoot She could not see Mrs. Johnson. but
knowing that he had been threatening her life,
and supposing the woman was at her daily toll
in the little kitchen, she sprang forward and
grasped his arm just the revolver dis
charged. Two shots were fred In quick
cession, but the grasp of Mrs. Riley
had swerved his ARM and the bullets
passed Mrs. johnson and lodged in the wall be-
yond her. He then jerked loose from Mrs Ri
ley and ran back up stairs A moment after he
had reached the room above a third shot was
fired. and all became quiet. The screaming of
the women had attracted the neighbor but
when they heard the particulars of the shooting
they would not GO up stairs to see whether or
not Johnson had put end to his own life. The
patrolman on that beat soon came, and when he
went ND to the he found johnson dead
upon the floor The bullet had entered his mead
an inch above the left eye and had passed dag
onally through the BRAIN Death had perhaps
been almost instantaneous.
Coroner Wagner was sent for, and after learn
ing the facts. here related, turned the body
over TO Tutewiler, the undertaken.